Thursday was fairly dry but cold. The new daytime practice was again held up as a result of Steve Plater’s accident but at least a few laps were undertaken on all three bikes and Dan was reasonably happy with all of them. He qualified 22nd on the Superbike, 16th on the Supersport and 24th on the Superstock.
It looked as if we would again have a wet race day but after the usual long delays the Superbike race started an a rapidly drying track and the rain held off until after the end of the races. Dan made a great start and at the end of the first lap was up to 12th , between Cameron Donald and Michael Rutter. He held that position until the last lap when he gained a place to finish 11th. This was a fantastic result. He was the first true privateer home and beat many established riders.
Dan again made up several places on the first lap of the Supersport race and came round at the end of lap one in 13th place. He was getting slowed on the entrances to the corners and losing some drive out of them. However, he kept fighting and ended in 10th position just behind William Dunlop but in front of Linsdell, Archibald, Lougher and Ansty.
The Superstock race was always going to tough having only covered eight laps in practice and never having ridden the bike before. However he fought through the pack and finished in 18th place. Dan enjoyed the race and we are all sure the after a rebuild he will go well on this West London Suzuki K9 at the TT. It will also be in our colour scheme rather than in black!
The final race was the second Supersport and Dan was again starting 16th. This time he finished 12th, just beaten to the line by Lougher.
The meeting went very well for us. Our positions were better than we could have imagined and we showed that with a wonderfully talented rider, the best engine tuner in the business and great support from our crew – Wayne, Rory, and the two Andys – we can run with the best. |
